The original idea for tiny homes was to avoid the mortgage rat race and retire early. An alternate solution that is almost as inexpensive but that doesn't involve living in a shoebox is a mobile home in a good old fashioned mobile home park. For seniors looking to downsize/economize their retirement a MH in a quiet senior 55+ community can solve the financial problem while still allowing them a single family home dwelling that you can park next to (unlike an apartment) and that is cheap enough to live near you grandchildren in a metro area. Senoir parks also have many community benefits for retirees. The one downside is the space rent that you have to pay to the park that is not under your control. Some parks such as Natural Bridges on the Pacific Ocean near Santa Cruz, CA have astronomical space rents ($5000+/month). Other places such as San Jose have rent control ordinances that limit increases in space rent to 3%/year. A few parks are set up where the residents own the park and so the rent they pay is to themselves and they have democratic control over any increases. In most cases space rent is comparable to property taxes in a normal single family home. Construction of new mobile homes is very adequate and at the same time affordable generally in the range of $100k-$150k. MHPs have been socially maligned but they are a great housing solution and a much better option than most people think.